South African captain and star batsman AB de Villiers failed a fitness Test on Tuesday and will undergo elbow surgery which will force him to miss home and away series against Australia.
Cricket South Africa announced on Tuesday that a left elbow impingement injury had failed to respond to rehabilitation and treatment, ruling De Villiers out of a five-match one-day series against Australia, starting in Centurion on Friday, as well as a three-match Test tour of Australia in November.
It is hoped he will be fit for a home series against Sri Lanka, starting on December 26.
De Villiers, 32, has already missed a Test series against New Zealand last month and last Sunday’s one-day international against Ireland. Faf du Plessis will captain the side in the one-day series against Australia and will almost certainly lead the side in the Test matches in Australia.